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LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE – SEPTEMBER 21: William Byron, driver of the #24 Raptor Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 21, 2025 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
When it comes to the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, there is one thing that has demonstrated that Hendrick Motorsports is capable of delivering the best when the time is right.
The leading crew entered Martinsville in need of a good finish and put in a very solid performance. It was between the dominant run of William Byron and the consistent, strong performance of Kyle Larson that Hendrick reminded the field why its legacy is four decades long and its history is the racetrack of greatness.
William Byron Triumphs at Martinsville to Secure Phoenix Berth
Hendrick Motorsports reminded everyone why it’s still the team to beat in the NASCAR Cup Series. In a tense, 500-lap thriller at Martinsville Speedway, William Byron held off Ryan Blaney to win by just 0.717 seconds, leading a career-best 304 laps and sweeping both stages. The victory locked Byron into the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway on November 2.
Byron’s decisive moment came on Lap 457, when he dove low into Turn 1 to nudge Blaney’s No. 12 Ford up the track, the kind of bold move that wins races at Martinsville.
“Damn, I got a lot to say,” Byron admitted afterward. “Things have a way of working out. God really tests your resilience a lot of times. We’ve been tested. Just unbelievable. We just worked so hard, and you put everything into Sundays. Sometimes you don’t get anything in return. But sometimes life is that way. You just have to keep being resilient. We were. Just feels damn good.”
Jeff Gordon couldn’t hide his pride in Byron’s performance. “William Byron had the race of his career today,” Gordon said. “I know it wasn’t a Daytona 500, but the way he raced was unbelievable. That last restart, not only did he get the jump in the restart area, but he drove deep into Turn 1, went wide, turned it, and drove off.” He later added, “I thought William drove the race of his life.”
Even Blaney, who finished second, tipped his hat to Byron. “That’s just two guys going for it, I don’t blame him for taking that,” Blaney said of their late contact. “I would have done the same thing. I knew it was going to be tight. I tried to crowd him as much as I could. Just proud of the effort from the team. They gave 100% of what they had, and that’s all you can ask. Wasn’t quite enough.”
Kyle Larson Advances on Points for Hendrick Motorsports
While Byron celebrated, Kyle Larson quietly secured the final Championship 4 spot by points. He finished fourth, edging Christopher Bell. The 2021 champion showed consistency all season, helping Hendrick Motorsports notch another dominant showing, a 1-2-3-4 finish at Martinsville.
“What a performance by William,” Larson said. “Happy for Hendrick Motorsports. This win is as good as it could have been for us, to score more points than Christopher, then have William win, too. Hopefully one of us can win it.”
Bell, gracious in defeat, agreed. “I feel content with the results,” he said. “The four are legitimate contenders. Whoever the champion is, it’s going to be well-deserving.”
Hendrick’s vice chairman, Jeff Gordon, a four-time Cup champion and nine-time Martinsville winner, couldn’t help but reflect on the team’s milestone. “This is what Hendrick is all about, resilience and teamwork,” he said.
Hendrick Motorsports now stands at 305 Cup wins, including 29 at Martinsville, and has produced the last three NASCAR champions.
Eyes on Phoenix: Four Contenders, One Champion
With the field set, the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway promises fireworks. In the case of Byron, it will be the opportunity to win his first title at the end of a breakout season. To Larson, it is a chance to pursue another one. And to Hamlin and Briscoe, it is a ticket to long-awaited glory.
This year’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4:
— Regular season champion William Byron, the season laps led leader
— Denny Hamlin, the season wins leader
— Chase Briscoe, the season top-fives leader
— Kyle Larson, second in laps led, top-fives and top-10s
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) October 26, 2025
Hendrick Motorsports is high again, and it is a testament to the fact that teamwork and some of the Martinsville grit can still make NASCAR great.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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